CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

IANS vs Kudelski Security

IANS is a practitioner-sourced intelligence engine where data, peer experience and expert insights converge for security teams. Kudelski Security sells customized programs that span managed security, advisory engagements, technology consulting and research and development of tailored solutions. CISO Tribune files both under Security consulting and advisory. This page sets the two records side by side: what each sells, where it is based, who owns and funds it, the customers it names and its recent news, each fact numbered to its source.

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  • IANS
  • Kudelski Security
IANS vs Kudelski Security: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
IANSIANS is a practitioner-sourced intelligence engine where data, peer experience and expert insights converge for security teams.ians.comKudelski SecurityKudelski Security sells customized programs that span managed security, advisory engagements, technology consulting and research and development of tailored solutions.kudelskisecurity.com
What it sells
  • Ask IANS[12]An AI Q&A service built on a proprietary database of IANS Faculty expert advice.
  • Client Portal[12][14]A library of research, tools and templates contributed by IANS Faculty.
  • CISO Inquiry Community[12]An invitation-only service where CISOs gain insights from a private community of peers.
  • Managed Detection and Response[4][6]Kudelski Security provides risk-based threat detection and response for any environment, 24/7.
  • Penetration Testing[11]Kudelski Security ethical hackers exploit misconfigurations, chained weaknesses, and business logic flaws.
  • Red Team[5]Red Team operations mimic real adversaries.
  • Product Security[14]Kudelski Security's product security helps embed security into every stage of the product lifecycle.
  • 24/7 Incident Response Retainer[5][8]The retainer gives assured access to 24/7 incident response.
  • Virtual CISO[5]Virtual CISO services provide strategic leadership, risk reduction, and compliance guidance.
Categories
Headquarters
Not stated on its pagesCheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland[3]
Founded
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Ownership and funding
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Named customers
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Recent news
  • August 25, 2026IANS named Kelley Hippler as its Chief Revenue Officer, citing her revenue leadership experience at Thought Industries, Briefly Legal, and Forrester.[16]
  • July 15, 2026IANS announced the launch of its Model Context Protocol Server, which delivers cybersecurity insights and data through the AI tools security teams use.[10]
  • March 31, 2026IANS announced the launch of a security-focused news offering with daily coverage written by its in-house reporters and backed by expert practitioner analysis.[9]
  • February 4, 2026IANS appointed Dan Klein as Executive Vice President, Faculty and Professional Services.[11]
Not stated on its pages
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: Not stated on its pages
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
  • G2: Not stated on its pages
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
Who it fits
From its own pages, IANS sells mainly to CISOs and their cybersecurity teams. A privacy service from IANS is aimed at CISOs, privacy teams and compliance teams. IANS offers an invitation-only community in which CISOs gain insights from their peers. IANS describes professional development that runs from hands-on technical skill to the executive table. No vendor can become an IANS client. IANS offers data-as-a-service delivery of its content to clients that license it.From its own pages, Kudelski Security designs its ethical hacking services for CISOs, CTOs, and security teams. Kudelski Security says its advisory work is for CISOs who develop strategies that minimize exposure and strengthen cybersecurity postures. Its product security services address organizations that build connected devices, SaaS platforms, or enterprise applications. Its credential monitoring use case describes a regional financial services provider concerned with credential-based attacks.
Last verified
October 16, 2026November 9, 2026

Where they overlap

  • Security consulting and advisory is the primary category of both IANS and Kudelski Security.

Where they differ, field by field

  • IANS is also filed under Penetration testing and red team services and Security awareness training. Kudelski Security is also filed under Managed security service providers.
  • IANS lists Ask IANS, Client Portal and CISO Inquiry Community. Kudelski Security lists Managed Detection and Response, Penetration Testing, Red Team, Product Security, 24/7 Incident Response Retainer and 1 more.
  • Kudelski Security is headquartered in Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland.

How they differ

CISO Tribune files IANS under Security consulting and advisory, Penetration testing and red team services, and Security awareness training, with Security consulting and advisory as its primary category. CISO Tribune files Kudelski Security under Security consulting and advisory and Managed security service providers, also with Security consulting and advisory as primary. Kudelski Security is headquartered in Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland, and IANS was launched in 2000.

IANS sells Ask IANS, an AI Q&A service built on a database of IANS Faculty expert advice, along with a Client Portal of research, tools and templates and an invitation-only CISO Inquiry Community. IANS says its content is aimed mainly at CISOs and their cybersecurity teams, and no vendor can become an IANS client. On July 15, 2026, IANS announced the launch of its Model Context Protocol Server, and on March 31, 2026, it announced a security-focused news offering. IANS also named a Chief Revenue Officer on August 25, 2026.

Kudelski Security sells operational services, including Managed Detection and Response, Penetration Testing, Red Team, Product Security, a 24/7 Incident Response Retainer and Virtual CISO. Its penetration testing is conducted by OSCP-certified professionals and covers internal networks, web apps, mobile, APIs, and cloud services in one engagement. Kudelski Security says its product security services address organizations that build connected devices, SaaS platforms, or enterprise applications.

What it sells: IANS

What Client Portal does[12][14]
The Client Portal provides a library of research, tools and templates contributed by IANS Faculty. Client Portal website data and infrastructure are based in the U.S.

What it sells: Kudelski Security

What Penetration Testing does[11]
Kudelski Security penetration testing assessments are conducted by OSCP-certified professionals. Kudelski Security penetration testing covers internal networks, web apps, mobile, APIs, and cloud services in one engagement.
What Red Team does[5]
Red Team operations reveal blind spots and test controls. Red Team operations assess the ability to detect and contain active intrusions.
What 24/7 Incident Response Retainer does[5][8]
The 24/7 Incident Response Retainer provides expert-led, SLA-backed support. The 24/7 Incident Response Retainer includes automated incident response capabilities.
What Virtual CISO does[5]
Virtual CISO services are meant to bridge security gaps. Virtual CISO services are tailored to the business of the customer.

Questions about IANS and Kudelski Security

What do IANS and Kudelski Security sell?
IANS sells Ask IANS, Client Portal and CISO Inquiry Community. Kudelski Security sells Managed Detection and Response, Penetration Testing, Red Team, Product Security, 24/7 Incident Response Retainer and 1 more.
Are IANS and Kudelski Security in the same category?
Yes. Security consulting and advisory is the primary category of both on CISO Tribune.
Where are IANS and Kudelski Security headquartered?
Kudelski Security is headquartered in Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland.
Who are IANS and Kudelski Security sold to?
From its own pages, IANS sells mainly to CISOs and their cybersecurity teams. From its own pages, Kudelski Security designs its ethical hacking services for CISOs, CTOs, and security teams.
What have IANS and Kudelski Security announced recently?
August 25, 2026: IANS named Kelley Hippler as its Chief Revenue Officer, citing her revenue leadership experience at Thought Industries, Briefly Legal, and Forrester.

About IANS

IANS is a practitioner-sourced intelligence engine where data, peer experience and expert insights converge for security teams. IANS has had a single focus on cybersecurity from the beginning. IANS describes itself as a cybersecurity research and advisory firm that provides services to support decision-making for CISOs and their cybersecurity teams. IANS was launched in 2000. IANS describes a proprietary intelligence platform that mines the collective experience of its CISO community and Faculty.[3][12]

IANS says its data comes from thousands of conversations between 170+ Faculty, who are security practitioners in the field, and CISO clients. IANS states that its vendor intelligence is based on facts and data. No vendor can become an IANS client. IANS uses AI to deliver answers from its practitioner-validated intelligence base of cybersecurity decisions.[3]

IANS offers the Ask-An-Expert service, which provides clients with unlimited access to seasoned cybersecurity professionals for guidance on various topics. Ask IANS is an AI Q&A service whose answers draw on a proprietary database of IANS Faculty expert advice. The Client Portal provides a library of research, tools and templates contributed by IANS Faculty. The IANS CISO Inquiry Community is an invitation-only service that lets CISOs gain insights and perspectives from a private community of their peers. IANS Faculty help executives communicate about cybersecurity risks and strategies to their teams and stakeholders. IANS provides briefings on the latest cybersecurity threats and technologies.[1][12]

IANS offers practitioner-based insights from IANS Faculty and industry peers covering aspects of the vendor management lifecycle. A privacy service from IANS includes an operational privacy framework, privacy toolkit, bi-monthly privacy briefings, regulation cheat sheets, and privacy communication slides. IANS provides access to daily content. IANS Faculty give live guidance on breaking cybersecurity events, incidents and breaches. IANS lets clients submit questions to a private peer community and receive insights in shared summaries. IANS offers an interactive, live setting in which to explore challenges with an IANS Faculty member. IANS also returns short, written responses from multiple faculty members on a topic.[12]

IANS acts as an adversary to identify and exploit weaknesses in client controls. IANS demonstrates adversary tactics and gives guidance to harden infrastructure. IANS offers an engagement to find the gaps in a client IR process, then test the plan against them. IANS delivers training through its Faculty practitioners to improve foundational skills and reduce knowledge gaps. IANS provides instruction with hands-on interactive labs, in multiple formats. IANS offers a personalized engagement with an executive coach from its Faculty line-up.[1]

IANS delivers its knowledge base via MCP into AI tools. For clients that license them, IANS offers data-as-a-service delivery of IANS proprietary content, including the IANS MCP Server. The IANS MCP server does not train or operate its own large language model. IANS does not use MCP log data to train AI models, and does not provide it to any third party for model training. Requests to speak with IANS Faculty can be submitted through the MCP.[1][12][13]

IANS protects data at rest with the 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm. IANS data removal process adheres to a decommissioning policy under GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act. IANS conducts annual penetration testing and monthly internal network and vulnerability scans through independent external parties. IANS and Artico Search surveyed more than 525 infosec professionals as part of the 2024 Staff Compensation and Satisfaction Survey. The 2025 Cybersecurity Staff Compensation Benchmark report draws on survey data gathered from June through the end of 2024. The report includes a breakdown of compensation for various roles across security functions and the factors that most impact compensation packages.[1][2][5][6][7][8][15]

IANS on the record

Sources

IANS full record

  1. [1]ians.comIANS · ians.com · undated page, accessed October 16, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Security program assessmentsIANS · ians.com · undated page, accessed October 16, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]About IANS — who we are and what we believe | IANSIANS · undated page, accessed November 2, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]IANS — The intelligence platform for security leadersIANS · undated page, accessed November 2, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]2024 Security Budgets: Data From 755 CISOsIANS · published September 5, 2024 · Tier A
  6. [6]IANS 2025 Security Budget Benchmark ReportIANS · published August 5, 2025 · Tier A
  7. [7]Cybersecurity Salaries 2026: Staff Pay and Retention DataIANS · published March 31, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Webinar: Where to Deploy AI Across Your SecOps TeamIANS · undated page, accessed November 2, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]IANS Launches News Offering and Reinvents Its Platform for How Security Leaders Work TodayIANS · published March 31, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]IANS Launches the First Cybersecurity MCP Server Delivering Practitioner-Validated Intelligence Directly into Clients' Native AI ToolsIANS · published July 15, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]IANS appoints Dan Klein as Executive Vice President, Faculty and Professional Services to Support Faculty and Consulting Services GrowthIANS · published February 4, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]Terms of Service | IANSIANS · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]MCP Data Privacy & Security | IANSIANS · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]IANS Cybersecurity Commitment | IANSIANS · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]2025 Staff Pay Data From 525+ Infosec ProfessionalsIANS · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]New CRO to Help IANS Expand Practitioner-Sourced Intelligence, Peer Insight, and AI-Ready Guidance for Security TeamsIANS · published August 25, 2026 · Tier A

Kudelski Security full record

  1. [1]About usKudelski Security · kudelskisecurity.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Kudelski security reinforces its presence in germany austria and switzerlandKudelski Security · kudelskisecurity.com · published June 11, 2018 · Tier A
  3. [3]Privacy noticeKudelski Security · kudelskisecurity.com · published January 2, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]Kudelski Security - Cybersecurity Programs Your Company NeedsKudelski Security · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Cybersecurity Programs Your Company Needs - Kudelski SecurityKudelski Security · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Detection and Response - Kudelski SecurityKudelski Security · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Threat Exposure Management - Kudelski SecurityKudelski Security · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Incident Response and Digital Forensics - Kudelski SecurityKudelski Security · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Continuous Credential Leak Monitoring - Kudelski SecurityKudelski Security · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]External Attack Surface Management - Kudelski SecurityKudelski Security · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Pentesting - Kudelski SecurityKudelski Security · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]Cyber-Physical Systems & OT Security Services - Kudelski SecurityKudelski Security · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]AI & Emerging Technology Security - Kudelski SecurtiyKudelski Security · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]Product Security - Kudelski SecurityKudelski Security · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A

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